Atiu (Cook Islands)

From the airplane, is clearly seen the large platform of coral that protects the island

Upon arrival, leis of flowers welcome visitors

For those arriving from the sea, the only access to the island is the small port on the north coast

The women of the villages meet on the coral platform to collect crustaceans and shellfish

The women of the villages meet on the coral platform to collect crustaceans and shellfish

The island is completely surrounded by a coral platform that prevents ships from reaching the coast

The island is completely surrounded by a coral platform that prevents ships from reaching the coast

Deserted beaches of white sand, typical of the south-west coast

During high tide, the reef platform is submerged by the waves

During high tide, the reef platform is submerged by the waves

Natural swimming pools on the coral platform that protects the island

A fish box was trapped on the platform reef during the low tide

Atiu is one of the few places in the world where you can see the coral fossil

White beaches formed by coral crushed by the ocean waves

The only coastal road of the island

Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff

Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff

Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff

Walking on the cliff, you can see clearly the ancient coral structures

Walking on the cliff, you can see clearly the ancient coral structures

The fossilized coral is present everywhere even reaching 30 m in height in the interior of the island

The fossilized coral is present everywhere even reaching 30 m in height in the interior of the island

The ancient lagoon now has disappeared giving way to cultivated fields

The road through the forest

The interior of the island is covered by dense tropical forest

The island is covered by tropical forest and unusual animals that move inland from the sea in search of food such as this crab

Walking in the forest, is possible find large fossil as this Tridacna gigas

A Tridacna gigas still with inside the fossilized mollusk become stone

On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea

On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea and which are today hidden in the forest

On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea and which are today hidden in the forest

The island is the less touristy archipelago. A simple but functional pub where you can enjoy a local drink similar to beer

A typical dish of the island are bananas, mangoes and papayas, eaten with chopped coconut splash of lemon

A simple but functional pub where you can enjoy a local drink similar to beer

Where is Atiu

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By: Carlo Piccinelli

Atiu island on Google Maps

Unlike the other islands of the archipelago, Atiu is not protected by a coral reef, but is surrounded by a large coral base generated by slow and continuous rise of the island as a result of the clash of continental plates. This particular geological situation makes Atiu, one of the few places in the world where you can see the Makatea, the fossilized coral. In Atiu, there are 4 visible transformations of the coral barrier: the Reef (coral which lives on the barrier), the Roto (live coral remains dry during low tide), the Uruatete, (coral structures death that turns into sand) and the Makatea (coral fossilized incorporated in the forest, now located 30 m above sea level). These 4 types of coral are due to the continuous elevation of the island (about 0.2 mm/year), which prevents to the coral to create a barrier and then a lagoon.
More informations:
Air New Zealand: www.airnewzealand.com
Tourism Office: www.cookislands.travel
Hotel in Atiu: www.atiuvillas.com